Dump the pump with new transit agencies in Google Maps
June 18th, 2009 | Published in Google Earth
Did you know:
- Individuals can achieve an average annual savings of over $8,000 by taking public transportation instead of driving and by living with one less car?
- For every $1 invested in public transportation infrastructure, $6 is generated in economic returns to communities?
- Public transportation saves 900,000 automobile fill-ups each day – or 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline per year?
- Switching to public transportation can reduce individual carbon emissions by 20 pounds per day or 4,800 pounds per year?
Now, you may wonder how you can plan a transit trip easily if you're not familiar with your local agency. The answer is - go to Google Maps. So far more than 100 agencies in the United States have made their data available in Google Maps through Google Transit Partner Program. Recently we have added several new agencies:
- Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston, TX
- VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, TX (data available tomorrow)
- Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT
- Metro St. Louis, St Louis, MO
- Foothill Transit, San Gabriel Valley, CA
- Riverside Transit, Riverside, CA
- Charlotte Area Transit System, Charlotte, NC
- Pinella Suncoast Transit Authority, St. Petersburg, FL
In addition, Los Angeles Metro, City of Edmonton, Houston Metro, and Calgary Transit have released their GTFS data feed to the public so that developers can create innovative transit applications to further promote the awareness of public transportation.
Now go to Google Maps on your computer or your cell phone, plan a transit trip, and go catch a train or bus. I bet your won't miss the congested highway or increasing gas price!